The present invention relates to compositions and methods for preparing
poly-unsaturated long chain fatty acids in plants, plant parts and plant
cells, such as leaves, roots, fruits and seeds. Nucleic acid sequences
and constructs encoding PKS-like genes required for the poly-unsaturated
long chain fatty acid production, including the genes responsible for
eicosapentenoic acid production of Shewanella putrefaciens and novel
genes associated with the production of docosahexenoic acid in Vibrio
marinus are used to generate transgenic plants, plant parts and cells
which contain and express one or more transgenes encoding one or more of
the PKS-like genes associated with such long chain polyunsaturated fatty
acid production. Expression of the PKS-like genes in the plant system
permits the large scale production of poly-unsaturated long chain fatty
acids such as eicosapentenoic acid and docosahexenoic acid for
modification of the fatty acid profile of plants, plant parts and
tissues. Manipulation of the fatty acid profiles allows for the
production of commercial quantities of novel plant oils and products.